Former leader discusses history of Congressional Black Caucus

Monday, February 11, 2013

FREDERICK, Md.—The history of the Congressional Black Caucus is the topic of a lecture by a noted civil rights advocate Feb. 26 at Hood College.

Elsie Scott, Ph.D., former president of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the founding director of Howard University's Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center for the Study of Black Politics, will give a talk entitled The Congressional Black Caucus: 40+ Years of Serving as the Conscience of the U.S. Congress. The event, which marks Black History Month, begins at 12:45 p.m. in the College's Whitaker Campus Center.

As the leader of the Congressional Black Caucus, which seeks to further civil rights causes, Scott launched several foundation initiatives that sought to strengthen the influence of African Americans in public policy development. She helped turn the organization into one of the most notable nonprofits in Washington, D.C., expanded its signature internship program and increased the number and types of scholarship offered.

Scott served as executive director of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and deputy commissioner of training for the New York City police department, and has held senior and supervisory roles in the Detroit and Washington, D.C.,
police departments and for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She has also taught political science, urban studies and criminal justice at several universities, including Howard, Rutgers, Central Florida and North Carolina Central.

Scott earned a bachelor's degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., a master's degree from the University of Iowa and a doctoral degree from Atlanta University. She has written many articles on matters involving crime and police and the black community, women's issues, hate violence, management and training, and race and poverty.

The event is co-sponsored by the African American studies program, the Black Student Union and the office of the provost.

For additional information, contact Hoda Zaki, Ph.D., professor of political science, at hzaki@hood.edu.

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Hood College prepares students to excel in meeting the personal, professional and global challenges of the future. Hood is committed to the integration of the liberal arts, the professions and technology, to the exploration of values, a sense of community and to the preparation of students for lives of responsibility, leadership and service.